Posted by John Donovan: 9 Dec 2023
In a courtroom drama that could rival any blockbuster movie, nearly 14,000 Nigerians from farming and fishing communities are squaring off against Shell, the oil titan with a talent for turning profits and, apparently, water sources into toxic sludge. These communities from the Niger Delta, where Shell has been cozying up for over 80 years, have had enough of their water being treated like an oil canvas.
Shell, in a move that might make Scrooge McDuck blush, announced record-breaking profits of over $32 billion for the first three quarters of 2022. Meanwhile, the people of Ogale and Bille are wondering why their water looks more like an oil painting than something you’d actually want to drink or fish in.